OK State leads by 8 entering final day at Olympia Fields

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (Sept. 15, 2018) – Oklahoma State is still searching for its first victory of the fall season, and the Cowboys are in good position to pull it off this week in the Chicago suburbs. After two rounds at the Olympia Fields Fighting Illini Invite, Oklahoma State has a nine-shot advantage on California.

Cowboy sophomore Matthew Wolff is a big reason for that advantage. Wolff has posted rounds of 65-69 at Olympia Fields Country Club. He is 6 under for the week, and one shot off the individual pace. Wolff got his first college victory Sept. 2 at the Carmel Cup, the Cowboys’ season-opener at Pebble Beach. Oklahoma State finished third that week. The team finished third last year at Olympia Fields and is looking for its first win at this event since 2007.

Oklahoma State has two other players inside the top 10. Zach Bauchou is 2 under and in a tie for fifth while Austin Eckroat is 1 over and tied for ninth. U.S. Amateur champion Viktor Hovland, making his first start with the Cowboys after coming home from the World Amateur Team Championship (where he represented Norway), is T-16 at 2 over.

California’s Collin Morikawa, who is also a week removed from representing the U.S. in the World Amateur Team Championship, leads the individual race at 7 under.

Morikawa’s California team had an opening 7-under 273 to share the first-round lead with Oklahoma State, but came back with 6-over 286 on Saturday. At 1 under, they’re still within striking distance.

Scores drop off from there. Alabama is third at 7 over and USC is fourth at 8 over. UNLV rounds of the top 5 at 9 over.